Improvement in steam-generators



UNITED STATEs PATENT OEETGE.

SIMEON SHERMAN, OF WESTON, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-GENERATORS.

Specification-forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,655, dated October9, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SrMEoN SHERMAN, of Weston, in the county of Plattand State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Steam-Generator;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the nature, construction, and operation of the same,sufficient to enable 0thers skilled in the art to which my inventionappertains to understand and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are made a part of this speci cation.

This improved generator has two chambers, one within the other, and areturn fire-flue intervening between them. The iiue conducts the heat orflame from the furnace underneath the outer'or annular chamber to thechimney. Water from the heater or other source is pumped into the bottomof the inner or central chamber, where it is subjected to a more intenseheat than pumps will work it. Thence it passes from the top of thecentral chamber through two tubes or pipes down into the outer annularchamber of the steam-generator, where a sufficient supply is keptexposed to the direct action of the iire-surface below for immediateuse. From thence it is carried by a revolving system of perforatedtroughs, which sprinkle it evenly over the exterior surface of thetire-flue, which is provided with plat-es which retain the water that issprinkled from the troughs, and which trickles down the sides of the hotplates which divide the steamchamber from the tire-due. The water issupplied to the steam-chamber from the central chamber through twopipes, whose openings are as near as possible to the top of the centralchamber, so that the clearer portion of the water is decanted off, andthe mud and impurities are allowed to settle and are caught in the tworeceptacles below, whose valves afford means for blowing off the mud asrequired. Provision is also made for continuing the supply of water fromthe central chamber to the steam-chamber by a short pipe provided with avalve, S, operated by a handle or stem, T, provided the pumps becomederanged at any time.

In the drawings, A is the outer shell of the generator; B, the furnace,and G the iiue unL derneath. D is the outer chamber of the generator 5E, the return-flue, and F the inner chamber. G is the chimney.

The water is pumped into the inner cham ber, F, through the pipe H,which is supplied from a heater or other source.

I prefer to have the entering water heated to as great a degree as itcan be by the exhaust-steam.

The chamber F, when the generator is at work, is maintained nearly full,as the water is supplied from it to the chamber D through the pipes I,whose openings are near the top of the chamber F. By this means theupper and clearer portion of the water is decanted oit1 and supplied tothe chamber D, while the muddy and sedimentary portion settles to thebottom and passes through the openings VJ into the tubes K, from whenceit is blown off at the mud-valves L, as required.

The heated water in the chamber does not occupy a great portion of thevertical height; but provision is made for raising and dropping it uponthe hea-ted exterior surface of the Hue-plate, so that steam is rapidlygenerated.

The device for raising the water consists of a circular series ofperforated troughs, M, which are attached to a rim or wheel, N, re`lvolved by a pinion, O, whose shaft P passes through a stuffing-box inthe boiler-head.

The troughs arc so suspended on pivots that they maintain their positionat all points of their revolution, the water dripping through theperforations in their sides upon the outer plate of the flue, as hasbeen stated. The latter has plates R, obliquely' attached by the edge,so as to form troughs to detain the water which trickles down thesurface, in order that it may be evaporated.

The steam for the engine is taken from the upper portion of the chamberD.

One great advantage of this construction consists in the economy ofweight of water, as, instead of keepin g thefiue-surface covered withwater, the latter is continuously raised in comparatively smallquantities and poured over the surface exposed to the heat of the iire.

The sections of the generator are tluted or corrugated, and have ribsrunning transversely or at right angles, for the purpose ofstrengthening the same against the collapsing pressure of the steam inthe chamberD. The flutes tubes K and mud-valves L, for the removal ofmay be alternate on the adjoining section. sediment.

The engine is started by means of the iine- 2. The revolving arrangementof perforated surface independently of that exposed to the troughs fordripping the Water upon the heated. dripping action of theWater-elevator, which resurface, as described.

' ceives its motion from the engine. 3. The plates R, attached to theheated sur- Having thus described my invention, what face, for theretention ofthe water, as and for claim therein as new, and desire tosecure by the purpose described.

Letters Patent, is- SIMEON SHERMAN.

1. The central chamber, F, and outer chan]- Witnesses: ber connected bythe vertical pipes I, which EDWARD H. KNIGHT,

operate as deseribed,in combination with the SoLoN C. KEMON.

